WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, this week sent letters to Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, urging them not to sever the dual-hat relationship between the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM). Section 1642 of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (PL 114-328) establishes conditions that must be met before the existing dual-hat structure can be terminated. Severing this relationship without proper assessment and certification would run contrary to the law.
“I am profoundly concerned about reports that the Department is unilaterally seeking to end the dual-hat relationship between the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) without consulting Congress or meeting the conditions required by Law,” Chairman Smith wrote. “As you know, NSA and CYBERCOM are uniquely intertwined and share many of the same resources. Any action to sever the dual-hat relationship could have grave impacts on our national security, especially during a time that the country is wrestling with what may be the most damaging cyber-attack in our country’s history.”
Chairman Smith continued, “I am deeply concerned about measures to terminate the dual-hat structure and request that you immediately consult with the House Armed Services Committee regarding any potential efforts to take such action. Further, given that no assessment has been completed and no certification has been issued, I remind you that any action to terminate the dual-hat relationship with NSA and Cyber Command is not only inadvisable, but is contrary to law.”
The full text of the letters can be found here and here.
“I am profoundly concerned about reports that the Department is unilaterally seeking to end the dual-hat relationship between the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) without consulting Congress or meeting the conditions required by Law,” Chairman Smith wrote. “As you know, NSA and CYBERCOM are uniquely intertwined and share many of the same resources. Any action to sever the dual-hat relationship could have grave impacts on our national security, especially during a time that the country is wrestling with what may be the most damaging cyber-attack in our country’s history.”
Chairman Smith continued, “I am deeply concerned about measures to terminate the dual-hat structure and request that you immediately consult with the House Armed Services Committee regarding any potential efforts to take such action. Further, given that no assessment has been completed and no certification has been issued, I remind you that any action to terminate the dual-hat relationship with NSA and Cyber Command is not only inadvisable, but is contrary to law.”
The full text of the letters can be found here and here.
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